Box



. Julie 1942. L. 1.. ERA I 2,285,786

BOX

Filed March 28, 1940 I [all/ ence L. Vr'a A tiorne y Patented June 9, 1942 UNETED FATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to boxes constructed of a suitable grade of cardboard or similar material and adapted for employment by manufacturers of focdstufis for the shipment of their products to grocerymen or storekeepers and who in turn use said boxes for the delivery of groceries to their customers. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a box which may be readily folded into a compact article when empty so as to occupy a minimum amount of storage space and which may be easily and quickly extended or unfolded for use and includes a closure integral therewith which also may be folded or extended along with the walls of the box and may be employed for reinforcement to the walls of the box if not desired as a closure.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a box constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the box folded or collapsed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the box in an extended position with the closure thereof arranged in a diiferent manner from that shown in Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a box constructed from any material suitable for the purpose and preferably of cardboard or similar material. The box 5 may be of any desired shape and includes a bottom wall 6, side walls I and end walls 8. The side walls I are scored, as shown at 9.

in converging relation to the upper edges of said side walls. The scores 9 permit the side walls to fold or collapse.

Hinged on the upper edges of the side walls The scores extend from the lower corners of the side walls reinforcement for the side and end walls. To fold the box, the flaps H] and I2 are swung inwardly and parallel the side and end walls I and '8. The scores ll of the flaps it then parallel the scores 9 of the side walls 1. The end walls 8 are then moved toward the bottom wall 6 which causes the side Walls and flaps IE! to fold on the scores 9 and ll with the side walls 1 moving toward the bottom wall 5 to lie between the end walls 8 and the bottom wall 6 when the end walls 8 reach a fully folded position over said bottom wall 6.

When the box is employed by a manufacturer for the shipment of his products and after the packing of the products therein, the closure flaps are folded, as shown in Figure 3. Ihe flaps l0 overlie the flaps l2 and the latter are supported by the products within the box. A sealing tape i3 is employed for joining the adjacent edges of the flaps It. After the box has reached the groceryman or Storekeeper, it can be readily folded into a collapsed article, as shown in Figure 2, after the removal of the contents so that the box can be stored in a comparatively small space. This will permit the groceryman to keep on hand a large supply of these boxes which is necessary in his business for the delivery of groceries and the like to his customers. The groceryman employing the box arranges the closure flaps, as shown in Figure 1. It will be seen that the flaps It) and I2 are interlocked with each other to prevent the flaps from opening and exposing the contents of the box. This manner of folding the flaps Iii and i2 eliminates the use of the sealing tape I3 and also permits of the box being used many times by the groceryman in the delivery of groceries. Should the groceryman desire to leave the box open while making the delivery of groceries, the flaps Ill and l2 may be swung downwardly to parallel the side and end walls and thereby act as a reinforcement to said side and end walls.

A box of the character described and shown in the drawing will fulfill a need by the groceryman owing to the fact that such a box when not in use can be collapsed into a compact article and permits a number of such boxes to be conveniently stored in a comparatively small space. Further, a box of this kind will also act as an advertising medium for the manufacturer in the shipment of his products owing to its desirability by the groceryman and also will be convenient for the manufacturer in that a large number of such boxes prior to their use by the manuwalls connected to the bottom wall for hinging movement with respect to said bottom wall, end and side closure flaps coactive to provide a cover connected to said end and side walls for hinging movement relative thereto, said side walls having scores extending from the lower corners of said side walls in converging relation and terminating in spaced relation at the upper edges of said side walls, said side flaps having scores extending in converging relation from the free longitudinal edges of said side flaps and connecting with the scores of the side walls, the angles formed at the points of juncture of the scores of the side flaps with the scores of said side walls being acute, said end and side flaps being foldable to parallel the end and side walls and within the latter-named walls with the scores of the side flaps paralleling the scores of the side walls, said end walls being movable toward the bottom wall and in the direction of each other causing said side walls and side flaps to fold on the scores and move inwardly and downwardly over the bottom wall and between the latter wall and said end walls when the latter reach a position of substantially paralleling the bottom wall.

LAWRENCE L. VERA. 

